We go tonight to our local venue to see Mr Rateliff, but to be honest, we’ve been a lot further in the past, because we’re big fans of this fantastic band. About five or six times and never has Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats ever let us down, they are an absolutely brilliant live band. Last time was at Black Deer Festival, headlining and they smashed it out of the park, so to see them in the Wulfrun tonight with a packed-out crowd was great. And of course Rateliff and his merry men, all eight or nine of them, saxophones, trumpets, tenor sax, organ, guitar, bass, had the crowd straight from the start. With their soul tinged rock, bringing out one of his big guns early with ‘Need Never Get Old’, and we know there will be a few stiff limbs the next day after witnessing a lot of the more mature crowd doing a lot of energetic “dad dancing”.

Rateliff only let the pace slow for a couple of very personal acoustic and piano numbers, reflecting on his past addiction struggles and ongoing mental struggle. But that doesn’t last, he quickened the pace with ‘And It’s Still Alright’ and ‘Hey Mama’. The crowd clapping or waving on command, and after leaving the stage for a short while, returning playing a cracking version of Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’. Of course he dare not play ‘S.O.B.’, there would be a riot, and when they do, of course it had a riotous response with everyone of course singing the chorus at the top of their voices. Again tonight proving that Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats are one of the must see live bands. So, anyone who has a chance of seeing them on this tour, do yourself a favour, DO IT.

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe